Today is the first day of the first ever LAKES INTERNATIONAL COMIC ART FESTIVAL. I'm speaking there tomorrow, along with HOAX composer Minute Taker, on the Rocking With Horror panel, and so am heading up to Kendal today, along with the Beau, the Daughter and Friend-of-Daughter-Noah. Ordinarily I'd be a little more organised for something like this than I am, however, with work and recent events, I'm running a little behind.

As I hastily gather together my notes, clothes and waterproofs (Lake District + October = good chance of rain), I marvel over how amazingly well the founders and supporters have pulled this inaugural event together. The programme, the guests, the arrangements... all incredible. And the way the local community is involved is nothing short of inspiring. They've even created a beer!

"Staveley-based Hawkshead Brewery has teamed up with The Lakes International Comic Art Festival to produce a limited-edition beer for the event. The label design is by American cartoonist Gilbert Shelton, creator of Fat Freddy, and named after Fat Freddy’s beer of choice – Tall Toad."

It's going to be a great event for comics, graphic novels, writing and art. But it's also going to be a great event for real people to meet real people - and that's what I'm looking forward to the most.